Jack Beckman has had great success at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Phoenix. He has won the NHRA National event there three times in Nitro Funny Car: 2008, 2010 and 2011. For Beckman, each win was under entirely different circumstances.
“I have won at Wild Horse Pass when the event was in the spring time and when it used to be held in the fall. I have won on a Sunday and also claimed a victory on a Monday when race day was rained out,” said Beckman.
But there is still one win Beckman hasn’t experienced at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. He hopes this will be the weekend he crosses it off his list.
“What I haven’t done is won the NHRA Phoenix event with my crew chiefs Jimmy Prock, John Medlen, Chris Cunningham and the Infinite Hero Funny Car. I want to make that happen.”
Last week in Pomona, Beckman and the Infinite Hero team earned the No.1 qualifying spot, running 3.888 seconds at 326.16 mph Saturday at Pomona, Calif. Beckman went to the quarterfinals.
“This is a brand new car that doesn’t have that many runs on it. The more passes we make, my guys will zero in on what it wants under different track conditions. I’m so optimistic heading into Phoenix this weekend,” said Beckman.
There is another reason Beckman is a fan of the NHRA Phoenix event. It holds fond memories for the 2012 Funny Car World Champion.
“My very first NHRA national race was 1992 at Phoenix. I was driving a Super Comp dragster back then,” explained Beckman. “It was the first time I ever did a burnout in front of a crowd. This event is almost like going home for me.”
Fans at home can watch the Infinite Hero Funny Car team and all the action of NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing on FOX Sports 1. An hour of qualifying coverage will air on Saturday night at 10:00 p.m. EST. On Sunday FOX Sports presents Live coverage of eliminations starting at 5:00 p.m. EST.
JACK BECKMAN: Infinite Hero 2016 Dodge Charger R/T … wins pole in Pomona!
Last event (Feb. 12-14 at Pomona): Qualified No. 1, lost in second round to John Force
2015 Phoenix: Qualified No. 12, lost in first round to Tommy Johnson Jr.
Career at Phoenix: Wins 3 (2010-11, 2008); Runner-ups 0; Poles 0
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2016 5th 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1-1
2015 2nd 24 7 2 4 5 5 5 1 46-16
CAREER 229 22 22 41 64 73 16 7 298-200
Best Time, Speed: 3.884 sec.-national record (2015, Pomona 2); 328.38 (2015, Pomona 2)
NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Standings
(after 1 of 24 events; DSR drivers in CAPS)
FUNNY CAR POINTS
1. RON CAPPS 119
2. Del Worsham 97
3. Robert Hight 80
4. John Force 69
5. JACK BECKMAN 65
6. Courtney Force 59
7. Alexis DeJoria 55
8. Chad Head 54
9. Tim Wilkerson 33
10. MATT HAGAN 32
10. Cruz Pedregon 32
10. Gary Densham 32
13. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. 31
FULL ARTICLE
